OK, as usual, you all have been a wealth of info. Many thanks! I think I've found a workable solution for my personal comfort level: if I can get my bank to restrict online access to one account only, I'll go for it.

Meantime, I see now I need to get things up to snuff before I do any kind of online banking. I had not heard of ewido before (HAN, thank you! You've been a wealth of info.) I do run XP, so downloaded and ran ewido. Well, much to my shock ewido found 183 spyware/tracking cookies that Spyware Blaster didn't block and neither SpyBot nor AdAware detected (all of which I keep updated meticulously). So I need to go through my PC with a fine tooth comb before I even consider anything else at this point. And ewido looks like a program well worth purchasing.

Some of the malware/cookies found were in Docs & Settings\Cookies folder, but most were in Mozilla, Firebird and Firefox Profiles folder. Quite frustrating and confusing. I use Mozilla primarily. With all the armour I use, I just don't get how this stuff got past it or went undetected.